Blanca Tapia joined the Office of Community Affairs as Interim Chief/Director in February 2026. She previously worked for the San Mateo County Human Services Agency, where she served as a Departmental Human Resources Manager handling various employee and labor relations matters. Prior to that, she worked at the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, where she supervised and led a team of 20 staff, including victim advocates, a public services specialist, interns, and extra help staff. She helped create a robust internship program and served as a state trainer for entry-level victim advocates while carrying a caseload and supporting her team in navigating complex and sensitive criminal cases.

Blanca has dedicated more than 10 years serving the community through a trauma informed lens and prioritizing engagement and trust with underserved and at-risk communities. She provided support to the Half Moon Bay community following the tragic mass shooting of farm workers and supported the Gilroy community after the Gilroy Garlic Festival mass shooting. Blanca is an advocate by nature and strongly committed to being a public servant.

Blanca was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and raised in San Jose. She earned her master’s degree in experimental psychology from San Jose State University and is a fluent Spanish speaker. Blanca is looking forward to advancing the interests of the County and its residents and in ensuring that residents have full access to community resources, services and information.